Three Branches of Government Quiz

Grade 3 · Social Studies · Quiz

Test what you know about the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the U.S. government.

Questions

1. What are the two parts of Congress?

   1. The President and Vice President
   2. The Senate and the House of Representatives
   3. The Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeals
   4. The Cabinet and the Senate
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   Answer: The Senate and the House of Representatives

   Congress is the legislative branch and is divided into two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

2. Which branch of government is the Supreme Court part of?

   1. Executive branch
   2. Legislative branch
   3. Judicial branch
   4. Presidential branch
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   Answer: Judicial branch

   The Supreme Court and all federal courts are part of the Judicial Branch, which interprets laws.

3. The United States government has three branches to make sure no one person or group has too much power.

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   Answer: True

   The Founders created three branches with checks and balances specifically to prevent any one person or group from having too much power.

4. Who is the leader of the Executive Branch?

   1. The Speaker of the House
   2. The Chief Justice
   3. The President
   4. The Governor
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   Answer: The President

   The President is the head of the Executive Branch and is responsible for enforcing the nation's laws.

5. How many justices (judges) sit on the Supreme Court?

   1. Three
   2. Six
   3. Nine
   4. Twelve
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   Answer: Nine

   There are nine justices on the U.S. Supreme Court, including one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices.

6. The system that allows each branch to limit the power of the others is called checks and ________.

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   Answer: balances

   The system of 'checks and balances' gives each branch the ability to limit the power of the other two branches.

7. What is the job of the Legislative Branch?

   1. To lead the military
   2. To make the laws
   3. To interpret the laws
   4. To enforce the laws
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   Answer: To make the laws

   Making laws is the primary job of the Legislative Branch (Congress). The executive branch enforces them; the judicial branch interprets them.

8. When the President vetoes a bill, what happens?

   1. The bill becomes a law immediately
   2. The Supreme Court must vote on it
   3. The bill is rejected and does not become law
   4. Congress must disband
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   Answer: The bill is rejected and does not become law

   A presidential veto rejects the bill, preventing it from becoming a law. Congress can try to override a veto with a two-thirds vote.

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